"What's up" he asked as he got to the living room, still chewing the toast. "Wow. You look pissed. What's wrong honey? Did I forget to do something again?" he teased, trying to make her laugh.
It didn't work.
"Wow" Jensen said, as he swallowed the toast and smacked his hands against each other. "You are not in a good mood"
"Yes I'm not" Katherine said. She began to pace the living room. "Look, I know you have really busy a lot lately. But I want you to remember that you also have responsibilities here at home. I don't want to have to keep handling stuff like this alone. I told you last night that Tim is having problems at school and I have to go see his principal. I was really hoping that you would come with me. You are supposed to be involved in this too. I can't handle everything alone especially when it comes to the kids."
Jensen sighed deeply."I know baby," he said. "And I'm sorry. I really am. I wish I could go with you but I can't. I have a meeting today and I'm already a bit late for it. We have potential investors coming in today and I want to make sure I get this deal. And that also involves making a good impression"
Katherine's rolled her eyes and stopped pacing. She wrapped her hands around her self.
"You have to understand me, Kat" Jensen said. "It's just that work is taking so much of my time. You know I love spending time with you and the kids. I will try to find some time to talk to Tim too. Okay?"
"Fine" Katherine said. She knew she would lose the argument if she kept talking. She knew how much Jensen loved his job and how important it was to him.
"That's my girl," Jensen said, and he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"You didn't even have breakfast,"Katherine said when she finally pulled away from him." You didn't have dinner last night either. And you know it's not everyday that I prepare lunch for you. I'm a bit worried that you are stressing too much."
"I'm fine," Jensen assured her. "I will eat at the office anytime you don't prepare my lunch. And it might be a bit stressful, I know, but it's fulfilling.. Especially after a project is complete"
Katherine nodded. She understood. "Alright" she said. "You should get going so you won't be late. Try to come home early today"
"I will, honey," Jensen said as he kissed her briefly on the lips. "Give the kids a kiss and a hug for me"
And then he was gone.
Katherine remained on the spot for a while. She didn't know what it was, but she had this nagging pit in her stomach that something was wrong. Or that something was going to go wrong. She hoped it was all it was going to be—a bad feeling that would eventually go away. She loved her life right now. Despite the little issues, it was perfect. She had a wonderful, happy family, and she wanted it to stay that way. She would do anything in her power to keep it that way.
She turned and returned to the dining room where she hurriedly carried the breakfast things to the kitchen. She would clean them up when she returned from work. Right now, she had to take her kids to school.
After she dropped Deanie off at her school, she headed for Tim's school with him. The ride to his school was very quiet. And when she tried to talk to him, she realized that she was speaking to herself as Tim had his earphones on.
"Great" she said aloud, "Obviously I can't talk to anyone in this family for more than two minutes any more. Everybody has their own stuff going on."
--------------------------
"Come back here, young man?" Katherine said as she marched angrily out of the principal's office. "Where the heck do you think you are going?" she asked Tim, who was hurrying away.
"Ermm... To class" he said.
"Oh. It's too late for that now, Mr" Katherine said angrily. "You didn't attend those classes when you were supposed to and suddenly now you want to? Now tell me, what is this your principal just told me about you also getting into a fight?"
Tim didn't reply, instead he looked at his shoes.
"I will not repeat myself," Katherine said.
"Look, mom, it wasn't my fault, okay? Paul started it" he said stubbornly.
"And you thought the only way to fix whatever issues you guys were having was to get into a fight with him?" Katherine asked. "My God. Tim. Skipping classes, not doing homework and now this? What exactly is wrong with you? Do you know that you could get suspended. Aren't you even worried about your future? This could affect you really badly if you keep on acting this way"
"Well, I don't care," Tim said stubbornly.